The Cursed Shell

6

Brute Coyle was asleep, wrapped in his blanket. Although the orphanage's bed wasn't comfortable for any average person, he was used to it.

There were more than twenty rooms which contained more than twenty beds. None of the beds were much long, neither much wide. 

Brute pushed his head out of the blanket. The first ray of sun forced him to close his eyes again. He turned away from the window and opened his eyes. As soon as he opened them, he noticed a silhouette heading straight towards him. He wanted to scream, but it was too late. The pillow thrown by Krystene had already pushed his head back on the bed.

Krystene chuckled for moment. "Sorry, didn't expect it to hurt!"

"Why did you do that?" Brute whined and pulled the pillow away from his face.

"So you forgot?" Krystene narrowed her eyes.

"Forgot what?" Brute was still half asleep.

"We are on a date today!" Krystene exclaimed in joy. "You promised me! I gave you money to buy a new phone, and you promised to go on a date with me in return!"

Now Brute was fully awake. His greatest nightmare was going to play itself. His eyes widened in horror. He whirled his head around the room, thinking of any denying response.

The room was empty. No one was in site, except Krystene. Brute had to admit that it was his fault that he had made a deal with Krystene. However, he had no option as it was necessary to inform someone about the pattern of deaths of the Sanskrit scholars who learned Sanskrit from the same teacher. He could do this by a phone call to... However, he didn't know how to use a cellular phone. Only Krystene could help him in that.

"What about our classes?" Brute gave a half inched smile, hoping that this silly plan would work.

Krystene eyed him. "It's Sunday, moron!"

Now no choice was left with Brute. He had to go on a date with Krystene. He was just going to get off from the bed when one of his classmates entered the room.

The boy who entered wasn't much tall. He was wearing glasses and had very, very short hair. "Brute, the headmaster's calling you. It seems like someone has come to adopt you!"

Like most of the orphans, Brute also wanted to be adopted. Most of the people adopt children under five, in this orphanage at least . Why did anybody decide to adopt Brute who is sixteen year old? Brute was confused. He didn't even know who wanted to adopt him.

"We don't have time for pranks", Krystene snapped.

"It's not a prank," the boy said, "why don't you go and check it yourself?"

Then he turned back to Brute, and said with a smile, "You're really lucky, Brute."

They all headed towards the wide doorway of the Headmaster's Office, which was opened wide at the moment. Brute was still in a nightshirt and a pyjama. His hair was uncombed and his eyes were still half sleepy. This way, he looked more handsome to Krystene.

Inside the office, they saw the eighty nine year old headmaster sitting on his chair in front of a man in his mid–twenties on another chair. The headmaster had white fuzzy hair and beard. From a distance, his face looked much like a sheep's. The young man sitting in front of him was the same who was accidently pushed by Brute the day before.

They both were smiling and were unaware of the teens standing at the widely opened door of the room. The headmaster exclaimed, "All the legal paper–works are done, and now he's your son!"

Soon the Headmaster realised that three teenagers were standing at the door. "Oh, Mr Coyle, congratulations! You're adopted! Meet your new father, Mr Rana!"